THE trial of Mr Brendan Patrick O'Donnell, who is charged with the murders of Imelda Riney, her three year old son Liam and Father Joseph Walsh, has been adjourned until Monday after the court heard yesterday that the defendant has a respiratory tract infection.
Mr Justice Lavan decided to adjourn the hearing after hearing O'Donnell yesterday morning. The judge was told Mr O'Donnell has a respiratory infection and is being treated with antibiotics. Tests are also being carried out to establish if he has a urinary tract infection.
Legal discussion in the absence of the jury has been under way since February 7th and is not yet complete. The jury is unlikely to return to court now before the middle of next week.
Mr O'Donnell (21), a native of Co Clare but of no fixed abode, has denied 12 charges relating to events in the west of Ireland in 1994. He has pleaded not guilty to the murder of Ms Imelda Riney (29) and her son Liam (3 on a date unknown between April 28th and May 8th, 1994. He also denied the murder of Father Joseph Walsh (37), the former curate of Eyrecourt, Co Galway, between May 3rd and 8th, 1994 and falsely imprisoning Father Walsh.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to kidnapping Ms Fiona Sampson and Mr Edward Cleary in Co Galway on May 7th, 1994 and to hijacking vehicles driven by the same persons.
He further denied having a shotgun and ammunition with intent to endanger life and for unlawful purposes on the same date.
The trial opened on January 15th but was adjourned on January 24th. It resumed on February 7th.